Gods immorality.

[robvalue]

They seem to hold the religious beliefs, and the idea that God is good, as unquestionably true. Then they work backwards from that. If anything contradicts this, they'll say anything at all to patch over the cracks rather than admit they might be wrong.

I do understand this. The mind doesn't like having deeply held, important beliefs challenged and it is natural for it to throw up mental defences to anything which might penetrate. These defences don't have to make a lot of sense; they just have to deflect. The idea that the belief might be wrong is so uncomfortable that any way of convincing themselves that the objection is unfounded is preferable and less painful than a thorough examination of their beliefs. I've been through this process myself more than once, just not in regard to religion.

There's also the fact that it involves admitting you've been believing in nonsense for (potentially) many years, even decades. This is a huge thing. It must be horrible to even consider that, and much easier to continue to live a comfortable delusion. In this kind of situation, I see breaking free as kind of an analogy for a second "growing up". It's finally being able to cast aside the need for a parent figure, to tell you what to do all the time. It's about thinking for yourself, and taking responsibility for your own morality.

The idea that whatever God does "is good" is a highly dangerous one. When anything an individual does is acceptable by definition, you have an unchecked dictatorship. There isn't any morality involved in this, there are just edicts.

My congratulations to you for getting through to him, and my best wishes to him as a new atheist! Maybe he'd like to sign up?